Citation Nr: 18145526 Decision Date: 10/29/18 Archive Date: 10/29/18 DOCKET NO. 16-33 964 DATE: October 29, 2018 REMANDED Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right hip limitation of extension is remanded. Entitlement to a compensable rating for right hip limitation of flexion is remanded. Entitlement to a compensable rating for right hip impairment is remanded. Entitlement to a rating in excess of 10 percent for right knee osteoarthritis is remanded. REASONS FOR REMAND The Veteran served on active duty from March 1987 to August 1992. These matters come before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (Board) on appeal from a March 2015 rating decision issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Regional Office (RO) in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Entitlement to an increased rating for right knee and hip disabilities The Veteran contends that his right knee and right hip disabilities have worsened since his last VA examination. Specifically, in a September 2015 correspondence, the Veteran and his spouse stated that he experiences constant swelling, discomfort and pain in his right knee and right hip. The Veteran also stated that he can no longer sleep on his right side due to his right hip pain. The Veteran was last afforded VA knee and hip examinations in January and February 2015. As there is evidence that the Veteran’s right knee and right hip disabilities may have worsened since the last examinations, the Board finds that a remand for a VA examination is necessary to assess the Veteran’s current severity. See Weggenmann v. Brown, 5 Vet. App. 281 (1993); see also Snuffer v. Gober, 10 Vet. App. 400 (1997) (a Veteran is entitled to a new examination where there is evidence that the condition may have worsened since the last examination). The last examinations also did not provide evidence regarding joint testing on active and passive motion and in non- weight bearing. See Correia v. McDonald, 28 Vet. App. 158 (2016) (precedential finding that the final sentence of 38 C.F.R. § 4.59 requires that VA examinations include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing and, if possible, with range of motion measurements of the opposite undamaged joint). Therefore, the Board finds that a remand is necessary to afford the Veteran another VA examination which assesses the current severity of his right knee and right hip disabilities and includes the requisite testing. Updated VA treatment records should be obtained and associated with the electronic claims file. See 38 C.F.R. § 3.159(c)(2); see also Bell v. Derwinski, 2 Vet. App. 611 (1992). The matters are REMANDED for the following action: 1. Obtain VA treatment records pertaining to the Veteran dating from February 2017 and associate with the electronic claims file. 2. Then, schedule the Veteran for an examination in order to determine the current level of severity of his right knee and right hip disabilities. The electronic claims folder and a copy of this remand must be made available to the examiner. The examination report should also include joint testing for pain on both active and passive motion, in weight-bearing and non-weight-bearing, for both the joint in question and any paired joint. If the examiner is unable to conduct the required testing or concludes that the required testing is not necessary in this case, he or she should clearly explain why that is so. See Correia, supra. 3. Ensure that the information provided in the examination reports satisfy the criteria above and, if not, return the report as insufficient. Then readjudicate the Veteran’s claims after ensuring that any other appropriate development is complete. If the benefits sought remain denied, the Veteran and his representative should be furnished with a supplemental statement of the case and afforded an opportunity to respond. The case should then be returned to the Board for appellate review, if otherwise in order. MICHAEL A PAPPAS Veterans Law Judge Board of Veterans’ Appeals ATTORNEY FOR THE BOARD L. Baskerville, Counsel